Rotary file



Nov. 20, 1951 c. o. OLSON ROTARY FILE 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed May 7, 1947 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Nov. 20, 1951 ROTARY FILE Clarence 0. Olson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Spin- Dex, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 7, 1947, Serial No. 746,481

10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to rotary index files wherein a drum with file compartments spaced around its periphery is rotatable to bring any selected compartment into a position where access may be had to the contents thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide novel means to retain the contents of the various file compartments against displacement when such compartments are rotated away from the position wherein the contents thereof are customarily withdrawn or inserted.

A further object is to provide a rotary file of the aforesaid character in which are embodied various improvements to minimize wear and replacement of the movable parts and afford greater ease of operation.

Specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a rotary card file having retaining devices for the contents of the file compartments which normally are urged inwardly to closed positions and which are so arranged that the retaining means for each file compartment is withdrawn positively by a cam or equivalent meanswhen the compartment is disposed in file-transfer position for extraction or insertion of its contents.

The above and various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a certain preferred embodiment is set forth for purposes of illustration.

In. the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a rotary file constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary viewshowing, in elevation, a file retaining device and the cam for operating this device when a file compartment is in file-transfer position;

Fig. -5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 in Fig.3; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6--6 in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the file cabinet l0 includes a rotary frame or drum I2 mounted on a shaft-l4 that is carried by the cabinet Ill. The drum l2 carries a series of filing compartments l6 which are disposed around the periphery of the drum. The fiat top l8 of the cabinet in has a rectangular opening therein through which access may be had to the contents of a compartment l6 disposed in file-transfer position. The drum l2 may be rotated by a wheel 20 which is disposed outside of the cabinet l0 and mounted on the shaft [4, thereby to bring any selected compartment [6 into the aforesaid transfer position at which the contents of the compartment may be inserted or extracted.

The filing compartments [6, as they approach the transfer position, project slightly above the top l8. Arcuate flanges or rails 22 disposed on either side of the opening in the top It serve as guides for a lid or cover 24, Fig. 2, that may be slid into or out of position for closing the aperture. The cover 24 may be secured by a lock 26 when the filing cabinet is not in use.

In accordance with the invention, each of the filing compartments I6 is provided with a pair of retaining devices 28 which are secured to theouter faces of the drum l2 in any suitable manner on either side of the compartment l6.

These retainers 28 are in the form of fiat, wing-.

like members of yieldable material such as sheet metal, preferably having inherent resiliency and normally tending to lie against the outer surfaces of the drum [2. The upper ends of the retainers 28 are bent inwardly to afford lipsor flanges 30 which are adapted to overhang thecards, folders or other files in the compartment [6 when the retainers 28 are occupying their, The lips 3|] prevent the connormal positions. tents of the compartment Hi from falling out or being otherwise displaced when the compartments it are rotated from file-transfer position.

It will be understood that the retainers 28 may also be merely flexible or pivoted on the drum I2 I and urged inwardly by separate spring member if desired.

When the filing compartments iii are rotated into the file-transfer position, it is necessary that the retainers 28 be moved outwardly from the drum l2 to withdraw the lips 30 into their open positions as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6; For this purpose I have provided a pair of circular cam when the filing compartment I6 is approaching,

occupying or receding from the file-transfer position as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Each cam 32 is Each cam 32 is of such configura 3 relieved as indicated at 36 in the vicinity of the file-transfer position to afiord clearance for the retainers 28 when they are in their open positions. At all other times in the course of travel of the compartment I 6 the retainers 28 are permitted to flex inwardly by the cams 32, thereby bringing the lips 30 into closed position wherein they are effective tb e gage the; upper edg'es ohthe cards or other files-iii the compartment and retain these 1 files against displacement.

My invention has the advantage that the re tainers '28 are subjected to positive camrn ingaction only when the associated compartments l6 are in or near the file-trainsfer position'. .QAt 2 all other times the retainers 28-are held-inwardly 1 by their own resiliency and may rige. l oosgly op the cams 32. The file contents are securely h against displacement by ,the retainers 28 when" they are in their closed fibsitions. The file cabinet ism-hunted on casters so that it readily e -positio ed with the dr m peratihg.w eei zo On her the fight 6i left-hand side facing thedpe'i' or;

its obvious thatvari'ous chan s maybe made ii i tli specific einh'odirhent set forth for purposes of Iii ration Witi ioiit departing frdiii the p c'iiile's of the invention} 1 The inventio ingly not to be limited to-the precise details disherin biit menses all modifications t fidw t m y Theiiiventjidn is hereby claimed as follows 1. rotary file' comprising a rotatable drum rsh eh aroiind-the perip erytherehrgsta i nary means defining; a' fil trans'fiei'" position withiespec't-to said .dru'm a series -'offile' retainerscarri'e ti'by' said drum and respectivelyass'o'ciated with a said compartments, each of said; retainers inclii'dirig resilient means norniallyurging the' -reopenposition as therespectiveefil ing'icompartn'ie'nt is dis'posedin file-transfer position.

.2 A rbtaryme comprising a ro't'atabledrdrh fqrmed with a series of filing-compartments nrranged around the peripher thereof, stationary means defining. a file-transfen position with respect to said drum, a series of file retaihersharriedby. said drum and 1 respectively associated. with said-compartments, each of said retaihe'isbeing yieldable'aarid normally-occupying a closed pssitionin contact only. saiddrilm to retain. the files :inthe. respective compartment, and ..station-.-I

any cam.;m ean's. cooperating. with: .said retainers but bearing thereon only proximate to said...filetransfer. position. .whereby each retainer ispositiyely actuated into. its .:op en;..position; ascth'e.

respective filing. compartment is disposed. in filetransfer. position.

7 03.; A; rotary. file comprising a. rotatable formed .with a series. of filingtcompartm'entsarranged around the;periphery.thereof, stationary meanssdefining. a. file-transf er -.position with; .re-

spect tosaid drum; aseriesof fileretainers carried,;by. .said drum. eachof, said retainers. being n is accord thin the spirit and-scope of the aper-ii toa biase position, and stationary camme {is constantly cooperatinfgwith said retainers bjit" bearing thereon qn y p oxi'ma te to said file: transfer position to move-each retainer into it's 7 d'Witha-serieS of filing compartments ar-- resilientand normally.v occupying .a. closed positiOILbY Virtueof their..resiliency toretain the files in' the;respective. oompartment;. and stationary ca, sans .cooperating. with said retainerswhere-t it aghuetainer is ,.positively.,-actuated .intoits. 999 -..p0siti0.r 1 .as the respective. filing compartment is disposed in file-transfer position.

iiigcompartmentisidisposed in file-transfer posi-' said cam means including annular cam s reoeived .by the hooked portions of said tibm. mem r.

' s, -5 rdtary file comprising a support, a shaft carried by said support, a rotatable drum mounted (on said. shaftforrhed with a: s'eries;.of gfilifig compartments. arranged.-..around1;..the. periphery thereof; stationary. means onasaid: sup'poitt:.dei;-

fining a. file=transfen=positionwith respect ;.to. said; drum, aseries of file. retainers ...secur.ed to.-: and" carriedb'y said ;drum.on .eithensidethereof; each of said retainers includinga. fiatresilient member; normally tending 170.3118. against 1 arriace' .-o.., the:-

drum and provided with, a; lateral .hookeshaped;

portionand .beingibentxat its outer enditolafiordi a lip which is eiTectivez.;to:retain..the;;files;imethe; respective filing compartment when.:the..retainer is disposed inwardly against said. ;drum';.-andtsta2 -T tionary; cam .meansro'n; said;support.. comprising:

anm'i-lar .cam members concentriowith s'aid-..shafttv on either side of said druxif,:.sai clanmfiarlcam:

membersbeingat all timesreceivedzbyrthe;hoolged portions ois'aid fileretainersbut bearingthereon, onlyiproximate tosaidfile-transfer position andbeing ..formed;; to draw. the retainers.. outwaifdly= wherebwthe lips thereofi'clear. =..the.. filing coin? partments: as the respective.compartments: are: disposedin file-transfer position and permitting? return -of the retainers to their'normal inward positions when the respective fi'ling 'c'oiiipar ments are disposed away from the file-"transfer position. N

6. A rotary-card file comprising ahousing hail 1 ing a serviceopening, a -rotatable'drum joi'iri'ialed 1 in the-housing and having a c'ircumierentiallye arranged series of peripheral card compartmentsof which a number are saccessibleiby way (if said opening-at-anyposition-mo which'the dfii nr s rotated, a series of radially-arranged plateswitlfinner portions carried tytneomm the Walls and outer-portions--yieldably; held to latter and formed with bend V p compartments to" bar-theeiiit of cards-tlfrefro and means to retract the outer portionsof plates amateur bpp'osit'esaidtphihg, where to cause the bends of such plates to clear the e partmententrances opposite theksafne' th 0 plate portions an bends retiir iiirigto 'heir inal positions wl'ien carried beyond-said the by the rotation of the dr-ii' 7. A'rot'ary-cai-d hie eombrisihgshouting h ing a service opening'a rotatable drum-"journal inthe' housing andshav'ing .a'; circumferentiall arranged series of peripheral card compartm of which'anuinb'er arei accessible by way or sa opening atany position to which the: drum is rotated, a seriesiof radiallmarranged:plates witfi inner portions carried by the-d rumqendvvalls ahaouter. portions yieldably 5 held to the latter a and 'formed' with-bends "over the entrances tiiis afd compartments to bar the exit of cards therefrom,

and means to retract the outer portions of such plates as occur opposite said opening, whereby to cause the bends of such plates to clear the compartment entrances opposite the same, the outer plate portions and bends returning to their original positions when carried beyond said means by the rotation of the drum, said means comprising stationary units carried inside the walls of the housing which are opposite said end walls, and elements carried by said plates and co-operative with said units.

8. A rotary card file comprising a housing having a service opening, a, rotatably journaled drum within the housing, said drum having end walls and a circumferentially-arranged series of peripheral card compartments of which a number are accessible by way of said opening at any position to which the drum i rotated, a series of radially-arranged plates with inner portions carried by the drum end walls and outer portions yieldably held to the latter and formed with bends over the entrances to said compartments to bar the exit of cards therefrom, and means to retract the outer portions of such plates as occur opposite said opening, whereby to cause the bends of such plates to clear the compartment entrances opposite the same, the outer plate portions and bends returning to their original positions when carried beyond said means by the rotation of the drum.

9. A rotary card file comprising a housing having a service opening, a rotatably journaled drum within the housing, said drum having end Walls and a circumferentially-arranged series of peripheral card compartments of which a number are accessible by way of said opening at any position to which the drum is rotated, a series of radially-arranged plates with inner portions carried by the drum end walls and outer portions yieldably held to the latter and formed with bends over the entrances to said compartments to bar the exit of cards therefrom, and means to retract the outer portions of such plates as occur opposite said opening, whereby to cause the bends of such plates to clear the compartment entrances 5 2.423.442

opposite the same, the outer plate portions and bends returning to their original positions when carried beyond said means by the rotation of the drum, said means comprising stationary units disposed inside the walls of the housing which are opposite said end walls, and elements carried by said plates and cooperative with said units.

10. A rotary card file comprising :a housing having a service opening, a rotatably journaled drum within the housing, said drum having a pair of end walls and a circumferentially-arranged series of peripheral card compartments therebetween of which a, number are accessible by way of said opening at any position to which the drum is rotated, a series of radially-arranged plates with inner portions carried by the drum end walls and outer portions yieldably held to the latter by the resiliency of the plates, said plates being formed with bends over the entrances to said compartments to bar the exit of cards therefrom, and means to retract the outer portions of such plates as occur opposite said opening, whereby to cause the bends of such plates to clear the compartment entrances opposite the same, the outer plate portions and bends returning to their original positions when carried looyond said means by the rotation of the drum, said means comprising a hook-like bracket carried by each plate, and a pair of stationary cams disposed inside the walls of the housing adjacent the respective drum end walls, the brackets being engageable with the cams to flex the plates against their resiliency.

CLARENCE O. OLSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 959,943 Jones May 31, 1910 2,343,280 Cory Mar. '7, 1944 West Oct. 7, 1947 

